Are larger tires in your future?

Backcountry Pilot put together a list of things to consider when increasing the size of the tires on your aircraft.

Founder/Editor Zane Jacobsen put the list together from the forums on Backcountry Pilot.

Considerations include: Braking, speed and fuel burn, brake clearance and pressure, tire and brake compatibility, tire wear, angle of attack, and gear loads.

In the “Check Brake Clearance and Pressure tip: “Proper tire inflation also affects clearance and handling — underinflation can cause rubbing, while overinflation can make landings rougher strips. Measure your brake clearance after installation and verify line routing before your first flight. Bushwheels should be run at fairly low pressure to get their full benefit. The installation docs say minimum of 8 PSI, but 4-6 PSI is where the real baby-head sized rocks are easily absorbed.”

I’ve never heard of using the size of a baby’s head to describe the size of a rock.

While in college, Zane was into rock climbing, big time.

“We had a local crag called Babyhead Rock named for a particular hold that was perfectly shaped like an infant’s head,” he explained. “The imagery has stuck with me ever since.”

My oldest kid was also into rock climbing in college and confirmed many rocks are the size and shape of a baby’s head and are known as such.